[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5709-S5710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EXCELLENCE: A BOYD FAMILY TRADITION

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I consider myself to be extremely 
fortunate to have a staff made up of people who are not only excellent 
at what they do, but are bright, interesting, and a pleasure to be 
around. Among them is a young man by the name of Moses Boyd, whose 
intelligence, determination and inimitable style have been a longtime 
asset to my office. Apparently, being hardworking and capable are 
traits that run in his family. I ask unanimous consent to have printed 
in the Record a column that Moses wrote as a tribute to a role model of 
his. She sounds like an incredible woman.
  There being no objection, the column was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

             [From the State, Columbia, SC, Mar. 29, 1996]

                Midlands Voting Rights Advocate Saluted

                            (By Moses Boyd)

       As part of last month's Black History celebrations, we 
     would like to honor a living inspiration who made a 
     significant contribution to the voting rights of many 
     Richland County citizens.
       She is Elease Boyd, my mother.
       She was born in 1924 in Fairfield County, where she 
     attended public schools. Married at 15, she gave birth to 14 
     children and enjoyed a loving marriage of more than 55 years 
     until the passing of her husband last year.
       While young, she became a Sunday school teacher at Zion 
     Pilgrim Baptist Church. In that position, she instructed 
     church members in reading and writing as well as Bible 
     lessons.
       Her interest in voting rights began in the 1950s. She 
     regularly encouraged church members and community residents 
     to register to vote, holding sessions on how to do it.
       She persistently communicated her interest to organizations 
     such as the National Association for the Advancement of 
     Colored People. She once accompanied a group to one of Martin 
     Luther King Jr.'s seminars on voting rights.
       As a result of her interest, she was appointed in 1967 to 
     the Richland County Board of Voter Registration.
       She became the first African-American woman to serve as a 
     registrar in South Carolina. In that role, she worked 
     tirelessly to increase voter registration, particularly among 
     low-income and African-American citizens.
       Her service led to appointment as chairman of the board in 
     1980, making her the first African-American woman to serve in 
     this capacity in South Carolina. She retired as board 
     chairman in 1988.
       Colleagues, associates, friends and observers have noted 
     the vital role she played in ensuring voting rights.
       She made an enormous contribution to residents of Richland 
     County and South Carolina.

[[Page S5710]]

       Congratulations, Mama.

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